Bowie County

Began 8th grade in 2007

1,329 students

Graduated from high school

1,052 (79.2%)

Statewide: 78.2%

Enrolled in college

648 (48.8%)

Statewide: 53.9%

Graduated from college

270 (20.3%)

Statewide: 22.8%

Each year, approximately 300,000 students begin eighth grade in a Texas public school. National employment and earnings statistics suggest that these students will have materially better prospects as adults if they finish high school and enroll in and complete a post-secondary certificate or degree program. Using data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency, the Tribune is providing a look into the outcomes of students who started eighth grade in a Texas public school over the past nine years.

Of the 1,329 students in Bowie County who began 8th grade in 2007, 20.3 percent received a certificate or degree from a Texas college or university within six years of their anticipated high school graduation date. For context, a 13-year-old student who started 8th grade in 1996 is about 35 years old; one who started 8th grade in 2007 is now about 25.

We have broken down these numbers by ethnicity, gender and economic status.

Ethnicity

A breakdown, by ethnicity, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by ethnicity, 2007

Ethnicity Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Black 441 352 208 65
Hispanic 39 33 20 11
White 831 653 412 190
Other 18 14 8 4
Total 1,329 1,052 648 270

Gender

A breakdown, by gender, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by gender, 2007

Gender Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Female 657 526 359 144
Male 672 526 289 126
Total 1,329 1,052 648 270

Economic status

A breakdown, by economic status, of outcomes for cohorts of students who attended eighth grade in a Texas public school. You can see who graduated from high school, who enrolled in higher education and who completed a certificate or degree.

Outcome of 8th grade class by economic status, 2007

Economic status Class size Graduated high school Enrolled in college Graduated from college
Disadvantaged 632 461 252 99
Not disadvantaged 697 591 396 171
Total 1,329 1,052 648 270